Sudan’s Bashir declines to meet Salva Kiir ahead of UN deadline

July 30, 2012 (KHARTOUM/JUBA) - Sudan’s President Omer al-Bashir declined to meet his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir in a last chance summit to overcome divergences over outstanding issues before the 2 August deadline.

The long time announced second summit was considered by the mediation to narrow the gaps between the two parties over oil and security issues. But the divergences between the two parties remained deep on key issues.

On oil transportation fees, Khartoum demands $32 per barrel as Juba offers an average of $8.18 per barrel, $9.16 and $7.2. for each pipeline. On the security arrangements Khartoum’s position is more against the mediation than Juba, because the former was not seen as neutral after considering a "Sudanese" area as a disputed area.

Sudan’s foreign ministry spokesperson, el-Obeid Morawah, released on Monday evening a statement saying that Bashir turned down an invitation by the chief of the African Union mediation, Thabo Mbeki, to meet President Salva Kiir on Tuesday "due to previous engagements".

Bashir is scheduled to travel to Doha on Tuesday for a meeting with the Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani,.

"The government prefers to hold such a summit after good preparation and arrangements as it should not be intended to enter into details of the negotiations but to resolve certain issues so that (the summit) impacts positively the situation between the two countries", Morawah further said.

In April the two countries were on the verge of an all out war when the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) ordered Juba to withdraw its troops from Heglig and on 2 May endorsed an African Union (AU) road map to settle the disputed issues within three months.

Since, the two countries committed themselves to the UNSC resolution 2046 which threatens to impose sanctions on the two countries under Article 41 of the United Nations Charter if they fail to agree on a comprehensive agreement before the 2 August.

During the weekend, Paris and Washington warned that the UNSC would take the appropriate measures against the two countries if they fail to meet the requirements of the resolution.

In Khartoum it is believed that Bashir’s decision to not attend the presidential summit was triggered by Kiir’s statements on the martyr day on Monday where he accused Khartoum of seeking to collapse South Sudan and urged the UNSC to impose sanction on the "intransigent party".

Speaking in Arabic, Kiir told the crowd gathering at the mausoleum of late John Garang in Juba, that the mediator few days ago asked him to come to Juba to sign an agreement with Bashir.

"My answer was what agreement that we must sign?" he said, adding that Khartoum still rejects the South Sudanese offer and demands $36 for every barrel transported through its pipelines.

The South Sudanese president pointed out that his delegation refused Khartoum’s demand, accusing Sudan of intending to loot the oil of his country despite the financial package offered to cover the debt in Sudan’s budget.

Sudan, during the recent sessions of talks in Addis Ababa, proposed $32 per barrel and asked to be paid in oil crude. But the South Sudan refused this demand.

The foreign ministry spokesperson in Khartoum said that the negotiating teams are still meeting despite their failure to conclude an agreement. He also said that talks over border demarcation will start on Tuesday.

He added that they expect that the talks over the border demarcation and disputed areas would need more time due the complicated character of this file, which was referred to an AU committee of experts.

The panel is expected to meet the two parties to hear their points of view.

The gloomy atmosphere in Addis Ababa did not prevent the former South African president and chief mediator Mbeki and South Sudan’s top negotiator Pagan Amum from expecting a last minute breakthrough.

Speaking in a reception on the occasion of the martyr day organised by the South Sudanese delegation, Mbeki said the distance that separates the two parties from reaching an agreement "is not so far".

He said that only political will can bridge the gaps between the two sides. He further stressed that achieving peace between the two sides is the real tribute that can be paid to John Garang.

Mbeki was alluding to the thoughts of the founder of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), the late John Garang, who preached for the unity of Sudan and the coexistence of its people on new bases.

From his side, following the reception, Pagan expressed hopes to sign a comprehensive agreement over all the unresolved issues before the 2 August without elaborating on a meeting held on Monday evening between the two parties without the mediation.

In Khartoum, the deputy speaker of the National Assembly, Hajo Elsayed, told reporters that the way out of the economic crisis in the two countries is to reach an agreement over security and oil issues.

He called on the negotiating teams in Addis Ababa, to take into account the interests of the people of both countries and make concessions. He emphasised that resolving the security and oil issues would lead to improvements in the economies of both countries.

(ST)

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31 July 2012 08:01, by Eastern

Al Bashir has remainded arrogantly defient even in the face of indictment by ICC. He globe trodes with minimal restrictions on him. He directs international bodies instead of being directed. Is this how the final days of the wanted president looks like? Al Basir YOUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED!!!

what do you expect from criminal like Bashir? answer is Nothing rather war and lies..
And in south sudan we are so divided beyond human social behaviors,e.g. SPLA/M Bor party,SPLM/A DC PARTY,and Non south sudanese party.

These mosquitos need raid to eradicate and deface them from Sudanese soil. Our mother land, land of the blacks cannot be used for arabization purposes. You kill the Nuba, Fur and the Ingesna people, we will not allow you to murder them with impunity. You have used blacks to kill blacks before, but this is a new generation that will protect its identity.

All Southerns,
Why are frustrated about Albasher refusal to receive you stand less Kiir. Our brave leader , bravely gave you "freedom" because he is a man of promises and firm stand on his principles. What about you? If you are capable of building a ’special" pipe line why are crying like a crocodile ? We are not interested in your oil we have other alternatives.Alhamdu lilah and Kiir knows Alaka

He is again going to see his over-lords, the Qataris. These are the same people who bankrolled the most influentuals british politicians, the EU, the AU and of the united nation so that these world leader look the other way and cut the Qataris a slack, to promote their arab project in the sudan and gain vast farming land and water on the Nile. you have been unmasked guys! try again.

Railway is the only viable means to serve south sudan to the Indian Ocean. The pipeline is only a one way system and oil will not be there for life.6.5 Billion barels reserve can only serve upto 10-15 years if no new found reserve become available.

Use rail link to connect the country. It is cheap and good for the economic well being of the country for years to come.

A very poor tactic from the NCP government! I think there will be grounds to punish them both (North & South Sudan) but the UNSC panel will offer them some extra time and a new deadline.... POOR LEADERSHIP from both parties: Soon, the two economies will start to crumble and both governments will face some level of collapse!!!

No, no we are not all getting sanctions, only the party which refused to accept the peace will be gunned down by sanction and at this point Sudanese is a trouble maker. Remember this: Penguins will not understand anything unless when they are in trouble. Arabs have no value. in the past one dead Israel solider was exchanged with 250 live Arabs. What penguins they are !!!

Bashir is like chameleon couping up with any atmospher he want to fool south sudan. If not why is he condemn the statementmade by kiir? What is important between meeting Hamad al-khilifa in Doha Qatar and Kiir in Ethiopia? Because he meant already no agreement would be sign on unresolve issuse.

Why all these oil transit crap negotiations if you can simply built a new pipe in 3 years? get real, all development projects in the south are on hold, all money is currently spent on feeding halve of the country!

you will get no loans from anywhere , china kicked your butts out last time!

Is that what you think in your klepocratic state? you think we don’t have way to turn to get loans for constructing the pipelines project? we have many friends forget about your China whom you have shaggy relationship with! where is china to recurse you from your crap economy? you only see charging a barrel of our oil with high transit fee will survive your economic,your facilities will rusty!

THIS IS A CLEAR SIGN THAT THE GOVT OF SUDAN DOES NOT WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE PEACE OF SOUTH SUDAN AND SUDAN. THEY KEEP PLAYING GAMES AT THE EXPENSE OF THE SOUTH SUDAN. PEOPLE OF SOUTH SUDAN... PLEASE ARM YOUR SELVES AND BE PERPARED FOR WHAT IS COMING NEXT. WAR IS ALREADY AT OUR DOORS IF YOU DON’T KNOW IT YET. BASHIT AND HIS GROUP DON’T CARE ABOUT SUDAN DO YOU THINK THAT THEY WILL GIVE A HOOT

I just can’t believe what am hearing from these stupid Arab Hooligans. This just create so much pain and hatred that we can never be together with these people. You know what I think is the answer to all these agony, divert the River Nile water to some other places and let’s watch them weather like fish on a drying pool. I am so outraged to hear them talking so arrogantly while we important issues

you have your Government to blame for this. For the last 7 years the GSS knew this is coming. Yet they wasted and stole 12 Billion USD on nothing except a beer factory. They did not build even one refinary. No pipeline, nothing. and now you want to dictate your terms on using Sudan’s pipeline. It is a wasted opportunity and wasted leadership. Imagine if today you had your own pipeline? Too late.

The wonderful people of SS deserve better leadership and better planning. Stop the corruption and stop inciting others, and start planning wisely. You have a country that is rich in resources, people and culture. You have a very bright future ahead of you if you are wise and smart. Shuuting the oil production was very stupid because it gave Sudan the upper hand and control over you.

Bashir cannot stand Kirr’s face to face meeting. He is scared of our leader. The leader who stand to his right and the right of his people. Not war monger and run to hide fugitive. If you are a leader of people you cannot decide to leave your people behind and run for free food. Qatar will not solve Sudanese problems, but Sudanese themselves.

please bro.. be cool and have patience it is only a matter of time before we topple this dictatorship and get good riddance of Elbashir and his followers gangsters, henceforth the two countries will reap the benefits and fulfill our common hero Dr.Garangh’s vision of a prosperous new Sudan